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SETsquared named number one in Europe

25 June 2014

SETsquared has been ranked as the top university business incubator in Europe and second best in the world.

The ranking, published by the University Business Incubator (UBI) Index, places SETsquared as one of the world’s leading three incubators, ahead of SCUT Science Park at South China University of Technology and just behind number one, The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship at Rice University Houston.

SETsquared is a collaboration between the University of Bath and the universities of Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey which provides services to accelerate businesses and boost enterprise.

Its incubation programme specialises in growing technology start-ups from bases or ‘incubation centres’ at each of the five universities.

Since its inception 11 years ago SETsquared has worked with more than 1,000 high-tech start-ups that have raised over £1bn in investment.

Its success stories include companies that have developed swine flu detection kits, microchips that speed up connection to the internet, and security systems that protect against terrorism without impeding world trade.

Simon Bond, SETsquared Innovation Director and Director of Bath’s Innovation Centre, said: "I’m delighted by the recognition in this year’s UBI Index – it’s an honour and validates our focus and commitment to entrepreneurs and the businesses that they create.

“The high ranking also comes with responsibility – the UBI Index highlights that Europe’s university business incubators have to work more effectively in order to compete on the world stage. SETsquared must now reach out to like-minded organisations to form partnerships and collaborations that add value for our entrepreneurs and client businesses.”

UBI Index is the first global index to benchmark performance and best practices of University Business Incubators. Around 800 incubators in 60 countries were involved in the 2014 survey.

Dhruv Bhatli, Co-founder and Director of Research at UBI Index said: “SETsquared did really well on our Global Benchmark and beat numerous business incubators based at top universities. They are one of the best incubation places in the world and certainly the best in Europe, as evidenced from their performance on our global benchmark.

“It is an outstanding business incubator that provides exceptional quality to its client companies and produces growth companies and high economic impact.”

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